Thursday, September 15, 2011

Putting the Zing in ArtPrize

Get a bunch of artists and other creative people together and you're bound to have a good time.

"Ox-Bow" by Bill Olendorf.

With the piano playing, supporters of "Re-View: Saugatuck Douglas," the 2011 ArtPrize entry, rallied on Wednesday, Sept. 14, at Zing, 310 Blue Star Highway in Douglas, to get the word out about some upcoming events.

• Tuesday, Sept. 20, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.: Cocktail reception at The B.O.B. in Crush at 20 Monroe Ave. NW in Grand Rapids. From 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. is a reception for the 24 artists who each painted a panel of the 150-square-foot "quilt" of the Bill Olendorf work called "Ox-Bow."

• Wednesday, Sept. 21: ArtPrize opens.

• Sunday, Sept. 25, from 4 to 8 p.m.: A reception at Rubinkam Studio, 20 E. Center St. in Douglas, will show off the original painting that inspired the "Re-View" ArtPrize entry. Rare, never-before-exhibited Olendorfs will be displayed through November. Steve Rubinkam was a friend to Olendorf.

Kristin Armstrong of the SCA.

“With this exhibit we are honoring the memory of this legendary artist who had a major influence on my own painting career and who has strong ties to Michigan,” said Rubinkam.

“Bill Olendorf’s colorful impressionist art is in the private collections of five American presidents and other world leaders.”

• Zing is ready to take diners north to Grand Rapids to see ArtPrize. Make a reservation at Zing for dinner for parties up to 11 people on Sept. 22-23, Sept. 26-27, Sept. 29-30, Oct. 3-4 and Oct. 6-7. Dine at 5:30 then board the Zing ArtPrize Express van to GR where you can scope out all the ArtPrize entries and return to Douglas by 10:30 p.m. A $15 per person fee will be added to the dinner check for the ride.

Ryan Kilpatrick of Douglas.

One more thing: When you stop in at Zing, check out the "window lights" along the booths. The back-lit images are of different pieces of the "Re-View" entry.